Potential reuse of greywater to improve household food security : a case study of two villages in Fetakgomo Municipality

Abstract

Great interests in the geographical dimensions of poverty, food security, natural resources such as land and water, and livelihoods have been motivated by global efforts of reducing poverty and food insecurity, as part of the millennium development agenda. The achievement of household food security is a major concern facing the world at large, including South Africa due to the lack of land and water resources availability and accessibility. The study aimed at evaluating the potential reuse of greywater to improve household food security in two villages of Fetakgomo Local Municipality. The objectives of the study were to establish background characteristics, determine household food accessibility and availability, assess the reuse of greywater in relation to home gardening activities, ascertain the perceptions on greywater reuse and lastly to determine the household food security status of the households. The study adapted a mixed research approach and a 4% sample size was used. Ninety five and seventy eight households were randomly selected for Ga-Seroka and Ga-Nkwana villages, respectively. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and the results were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version-23 software. General Household Survey (GHS) in combination with Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) were used to assess household food security status of the two villages. The key results revealed that background characteristics of importance on greywater reuse include household size, educational level and employment status even though they varied in these two areas. Accessibility and availability of food was found to be more of a challenge in Ga-Seroka village than in Ga-Nkwana village. Respondents from Ga-Seroka village reused their greywater more as they drained it directly into their gardens. According to the HFIAS classification measure, 85% and 73% of households were categorised as least food insecure, 15% and 26% as medium food insecure and 0% and 1% as severely food insecure in Ga-Nkwana and Ga-Seroka villages respectively. Ga-Seroka village respondents preferred to reuse their greywater more often as compared to respondents in Ga-Nkwana village and were not reluctant to use it in their gardens. In conclusion, reuse of greywater has a potential to improve household food security. There is a need for the government to subsidize the households with incentives such as quality seeds and fertilizers in order to enhance their productivity and thus improving their household food security. Keywords: Food security, availability, accessibility, land, water, Fetakgomo Local Municipality, greywater reuse.